Mobile home anchor



Get. 1, 1968 c, pocT 3,403,487

MOBILE HOME ANCHOR Filed Sept. 28, 1965 INVENTOR. CHARLES F. DOCTER BY f ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,403,487 MOBILE HOME ANCHOR Charles F. Docter, 2801 Topview Place, Cincinnati, Ohio 45239 Filed Sept. 28, 1965, Ser. No. 490,929 6 Claims. (Cl. 52148) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention discloses an anchor device for securing mobile homes to the ground, and includes hook and clamp means for engaging a concrete support means embedded in the ground and cable means associated with the hook means for engaging the mobile home thereby anchoring it to the ground.

This invention relates to an anchor and, more particularly, to an anchor for securing a mobile home or the like to the ground.

Mobile homes are readily movable from one location to another. Because of various zoning laws and the like, these homes normally must be located in certain areas. Furthermore, various utility services such as electricity and water, for example, must be available. In order to provide these services, house trailer or mobile home parks have been created and are now well-known.

Each of these parks has a plurality of spaces in which mobile homes may be located. Most of these trailer parks have a concrete apron or support structure on which the mobile home is parked.

While the weight of the mobile home is suflicient to normally permit it to remain stationary in its parking place when blocks are placed around the wheels, this does not secure the mobile home to the ground. In order to prevent the mobile home from being damaged or destroyed by wind, the mobile home must be anchored or secured to the ground. Otherwise, wind can cause substantial damage to a mobile home and its occupants.

Since mobile homes vary in length and width, it would not be economically feasible to have a fixed securing means for each size of trailer. The present invention satisfactorily solves this problem by providing an anchoring device that is readily useable with mobile homes of any length and/ or width.

The anchor device of the present invention is particularly adapted for use where a concrete apron or support means is already embedded in the ground. If a park should not have such a concrete apron, it would be necessary to install concrete piers at the four corners of the parking space for a mobile home in order to employ the anchor of the present invention.

Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is to provide a device to anchor a mobile home to the ground.

Other objects, uses, and advantages of this invention are apparent upon a reading of this description, which proceeds with reference to the drawing forming part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a mobile home and illustrating part of the anchor of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view, partly in section of the mobile home of FIGURE 1 and showing part of the anchor of the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of portions of a hook that forms part of the anchor of the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a clamp utilized with the present invention.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of one type of securing means attached to the mobile home for use with the present invention.

3,403,487 Patented Oct. 1, 1968 Referring to the drawing and particularly FIGURE 1, there is shown a mobile home 10 resting on a concrete apron 11, which is embedded in the ground to provide support means for the mobile home 10. While the mobile home 10 is disclosed as supported by its wheels 12 (one shown), it should be understood that it could be supported on stationary structure extending upwardly from the concrete apron if desired.

The anchoring device of the present invention includes hooks 14, 15, 16, and 17 with each of the hooks disposed adjacent one of the corners of the mobile home 10. As shown in FIGURE 3, each of the hooks 14-17 includes a first member 18 and a second member 19. Each of the members 18 and 1-9 is preferably an L-shaped angle member.

The first angle member 18 has a first portion 20 and a second portion 21 disposed substantially perpendicular to each other. The second portion 21 of the first member 18 has three openings or apertures 22 extending through one of its walls. The first portion 20 is preferably 16 inches from its free end to its junction with the second portion 21. The second portion 21 is preferably six inches in length from its free end to its junction with the first portion 20.

The second angle member 19 of each of the hooks includes a first portion 23 having an aperture 24 adjacent its free end. The second member 19 has a second portion 25, which is substantially perpendicular to the first portion 23 of the second member 19. The second portion 25 has a slot 26 extending through one of its walls. The length of the slot 26 is suflicient to overlap two of the openings 22 in the second portion 21 of the first member 18.

The length of the first portion 23 of the second member 19 is approximately 16 inches from its free end to its junction with the second portiion 25. The second portion 25 of the second member 19 is approximately 12 inches from its free end to the junction with the first portion 23.

In order to assemble each of the hooks 14-17 for attachment to the concrete apron 11, the first portion 20 of the first member 18 is positioned beneath the bottom of the concrete apron 11. One method of disposing the first portion 20 beneath the apron 11 is to dig a hole at an angle so as to urge and force the first portion 20 of the first member 18 beneath the bottom of the concrete apron 11.

When the first portion 20 of the first member 18 is disposed beneath the bottom of the concrete apron 11, the second portion 21 is disposed adjacent the side of the concrete apron 11. It should be observed that the first portion 20 has a pointed end 27 (see FIGURE 2) to enable it to be urged underneath the bottom of the concrete apron 11.

The second member 19, which has a pointed end 28 at the free end of the second portion 25, is then driven into the ground. It should be understood that the second portion 25 of the second angle member 19 is positioned within the second portion 21 of the first angle member 18. The first portion 23 of the second member 19 will abut against the top of the concrete apron 11 as the second member 19 is being driven into the ground to stop further movement thereof. The final position of the second member 19 is such that the slot 26 overlaps two of the three openings 22 within the second portion 21 of the member 18 and is in alignment therewith.

The first member 18 and the second member 19 are then joined together by two bolts 29, which pass through two of the openings 22 and the slot 26. Nuts are threaded onto the end of each of the bolts 29 to secure the members 18 and 19 together to form a unitary hook.

The bolts 29 are preferably inch in diameter. This, of course, depends upon the size of the openings or aper- 3 tures 22 in the second portion 21 of the first angle member 18.

When the first and second members of each of the hooks are secured together, the hook is firmly secured to the concrete apron 11. In this secured position, the first portion 20 of the first member 18 is substantially parallel to the first portion 23 of the second member 19. If there were no concrete apron 11 embedded in the ground, then it would be necessary to embed concrete piers in the ground at least adjacent each of the corners of the mobile home to secure the hooks to the ground.

The mobile home 10 has two parallel, spaced I-beams 31 attached to its bottom by suitable means such as welding, for example. While the I-beams 31 are shown as extending the length of the mobile home 10, it should be understood that each of the I-beams 31 could be formed of two segments with one segment disposed at each end of the mobile home 10. As shown in FIGURE 5, each of the I-beams 31 has an aperture 32 extending through its wall adjacent each end thereof.

As shown in FIGURE 1, a cable 33, which is preferably steel wire, extends from the hook 14 to the hook 15. The cable 33 is attached to the book 14 by a clamp 34 (see FIGURE 4), which has a hook 35 at one end thereof for fitting within the aperture 24 of the hook 14. The cable 33 may be secured to the clamp 34 by a set screw 36. Of course, any other suitable means, which will secure the cable 33 to the hook 14, may be employed.

The other end of the cable 33 is attached by one of the clamps 34 to a turnbuckle 37, which is secured to the hook 15. The turnbuckle 37 has a hook on its lower end to fit within the aperture 24 in the first portion 23 of the second angle member 19 of the hook while its upper end has a closed loop member to receive the hook of the clamp 34.

Before securing the cable 33 to the clamps 34, the cable 33 is passed through the openings 32 in one end of each of the I-beams 31 to attach the cable 33 to the mobile home 10. Thus, when the cable 33 is secured to the hooks 14 and 15, the mobile home 10 is secured to the ground through the concrete apron 11. The turnbuckle 37 is employed to provide final adjustment to the cable 33 to maintain it under the desired tension.

A second cable 38, which is preferably steel wire, is attached to the hooks 16 and 17 and is passed through the openings 32 in the other end of each of the I-beams 31 as shown in FIGURE 2. One end of the cable 38 is secured to one of the clamps 34, which is connected to the hook 16. The other end of the cable 38 is attached to one of the clamps 34, which is connected to another of the turnbuckles 37. The turnbuckle 37 is connected to the hook 17. In the same manner as described for the cable 33, the cable 38 is threaded through the openings 32 in each of the I-beams 31 before being attached to the hooks 16 and 17. The turnbuckle 37 is adjustable to provide the desired tension on the cable 38.

Considering the formation of the anchor of the present invention, the hooks 14-17 are attached to the concrete apron 11. The hooks 14-17 are preferably positioned adjacent the ends of the mobile home 10. The cables 33 and 38 may be utilized to compensate for mobile homes of various lengths and widths. However, the hooks 14-17 could be repositioned whenever a mobile home 10 of a different length were parked on the concrete apron 11. Similarly, the length of the first portion 23 of the second member 19 of each of the hooks could be altered for mobile homes of different widths.

After the hooks 1417 are attached to the concrete apron 11, the cable 33 is connected to the hooks 14 and 15 and to the adjacent end of each of the I-beams 31. The cable 38 is attached to the hooks 16 and 17 and the other end of each of the I-beams 31. Of course, it would be necessary to secure the I-beams 31 to the bottom of the mobile home 10 unless the mobile home 10 should have suitable longitudinal I-beams or similar support structure depending from its bottom.

The present invention permits the anchoring of the mobile home 10 in a short period of time. In a similar manner, the mobile home 10 may be easily disconnected from the anchoring device when it is desired to move the mobile home 10.

An advantage of this invention is that it prevents damage to a mobile home and/ or its occupants due to high wind. Another advantage of this invention is that it may be readily utilized with existing concrete aprons of trailer parks without damaging the concrete apron or causing alteration thereof.

For purposes of exemplification, a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described according to the best present understanding thereof. However, it will be apparent that changes and modifications in the arrangement and construction of the parts thereof may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An anchor for securing a mobile home to the ground including support means of concrete having spaced top and bottom surfaces embedded in the ground at least adjacent each corner of the mobile home, a first set of two hooks secured to said concrete support means adjacent one end of the mobile home with each of said hooks adjacent a corner of the mobile home, a second set of two hooks secured to said concrete support means adjacent the other end of the mobile home with each of said hooks adjacent a corner of the mobile homes, each of said hooks comprising a first member having a first portion disposed beneath said concrete support means and a second portion extending upwardly from said first portion substantially perpendicular thereto, each of said hooks comprising a second member having a first portion disposed adjacent the top surface of said concrete support means and a second portion disposed in contiguous relation with said second portion of said first member, said first por tion of said second member being substantially parallel to said first portion of said first member, means securing said second portion of said first member to said second portion of said second member, a first cable connecting said first set of hooks to each other, a second cable connecting said second set of hooks to each other, each of said cables being attached to the mobile home intermediate its attached ends, and means to adjust the length of each of said cables.

2. The anchor according to claim 1 in which each of said first and second members is an L-shaped angle member.

3. An anchor for securing a mobile home to the ground including support means of concrete having spaced top and bottom surfaces embedded in the ground at least adjacent each corner of the mobile home, a first set of two hooks secured to said concrete support means adjacent one end of the mobile home with each of said hooks adjacent a corner of the mobile home, a second set of two hooks secured to said concrete support means adjacent the other end of the mobile home with each of said hooks adjacent a corner of the mobile home, each of said hooks comprising a first member having a first portion disposed beneath said concrete support means and a second portion extending upwardly from said first portion substantially perpendicular thereto, each of said hooks comprising a second member having a first portion disposed adjacent the top surface of said concrete support means and a second portion disposed in contiguous relation with said second porton of said first member, said first portion of said second member being substantially parallel to said first portion of said first member, means securing said secend portion of said first member to said second portion of said angle member, said second portion of said second member extending into the ground beyond said first portion of said first member, a first cable connecting said first set of hooks to each other, a second cable connecting said second set of hooks to each other, each of said cables being attached to the mobile home intermediate its attached ends, and means to adjust the length of each of said cables.

4. An anchor for securing a mobile home to the ground including support means of concrete having spaced top and bottom surfaces embedded in the ground at least adjacent each corner of the mobile home, a first set of two hooks secured to said concrete support means adjacent one end of the mobile home with each of said hooks adjacent a corner of the mobile home, a second set of two hooks secured to said concrete support means adjacent the other end of the mobile home with each of said hooks adjacent a corner of the mobile home, each of said hooks comprising a first member having a first portion disposed beneath said concrete support means and a second portion extending upwardly from said first portion substantially perpendicular thereto, each of said hooks comprising a second member having a first portion disposed adjacent the top surface of said concrete support means and a second portion disposed in contiguous relation with said second portion of said first member, said first portion of said second member being substantially parallel to said first portion of said first member, means securing said second portion of said first member to said second portion of said second member, a first cable connecting said first set of hooks to each other, a second cable connecting said second set of hooks to each other, securing means attached to the bottom of the mobile home adjacent one end thereof and securing means attached to the bottom of the mobile home adjacent the other end thereof, each of said cables being connected to the adjacent of said securing means intermediate the attached ends of the cable, and means to adjust the length of each of said cables.

5. An anchor for securing a mobile home to the ground including support means of concrete having spaced top and bottom surfaces embedded in the ground at least adjacent each corner of the mobile home, a first set of two hooks secured to the concrete support means adjacent one end of the mobile home with each of said hooks adjacent a corner of the mobile home, a second set of two hooks secured to the concrete support means adjacent the other end of the mobile home with each of said hooks adjacent a corner of the mobile home, each of said hooks comprising a first member having a first portion disposed beneath said concrete support means and a second portion extending upwardly from said first portion substantially perpendicular thereto, each of said hooks comprising a second member having a first portion disposed adjacent the top surface of said concrete support means and a second portion disposed in contiguous relation with said second portion of said first member, said first portion of said second member being substantially parallel to said first portion of said first member, means securing said second portion of said first member to said second portion of said angle member, said second portion of said second member extending into the ground beyond said first portion of said first member, a first cable connecting said first set of hooks to each other, a second cable connecting said second set of hooks to each other, securing means attached to the bottom of the mobile home adjacent one end thereof and securing means attached to the bottom of the mobile home adjacent the other end thereof, each of said cables being connected to the adjacent of said securing means intermediate the attached ends of the cable, and means to adjust the length of each of said cables.

6. The anchor according to claim 5 in which said second portion of said first member has three spaced apertures therein, said second portion of said second member has a slot overlapping two of said apertures, and said securing means for said first and second members includes two bolts passing through said slot and said overlapped apertures and nuts attached to said bolts.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 269,018 12/1882 Crowell 52-23 3,054,151 9/1962 Shankland 5223 3,302,342 2/1967 Castleberry 52-122 3,313,511 4/1967 Koerner 248-36l HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Primary Examiner.

PRICE C. FAW, Assistant Examiner. 

